An appeal by Kevin Nunn for the release of evidence that could be subjected to forensic tests not available at the time of his conviction will be heard by the Supreme Court today.

Kevin Nunn, of Woolpit, was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison for the murder of 39-year-old Dawn Walker, whose body was found near the River Lark, close to her home in Fornham St Genevieve, in 2005.

Last week Miss Walker’s sister, Sheena Walker, said the appeal will change nothing and claimed it could potentially put a major strain on police forces across the country if his plea is granted.

In a statement, she said: “The outcome of the hearing will have no effect on Kevin Nunn’s conviction.

“Nunn was convicted on circumstantial evidence that was so great and was enough to convince a jury and secure his conviction.

“It is my understanding that as he was convicted on circumstantial evidence, any new forensic evidence will not clear him of his crime, as it would not have been a convicting factor.

“The information surrounding the sperm heads was heard by the jury who found Nunn guilty and was not a convicting factor so can not result in an appeal process.

“If Nunn’s family succeed in court it will not set him free and will only unlock the floodgates for other convicted killers and rapists etc to request all information and evidence held against them to be released to them so as to be re-investigated.

“My understanding is that every police force will then have to fund a department who will have to deal with a supply and demand of this information which will cause a further strain on an already tight police budget for every area.”

During Nunn’s trial in 2006, the court was told that he had killed Ms Walker after a row before burning her body and dumping it near the river.

Nunn said told the jury that another man had been in a relationship with Ms Walker and it was this person that was responsible for her death.

Nunn’s sister Brigitte Butcher added: “Technology has advanced since Kevin’s trial and the time to retest is now.”